MPIO on Hyper-V Server

On the previous version of Windows Server (prior Windows Server 2012) you have to download and install MultiPath I/O (MPIO). Since Windows Server 2012 MPIO is a feature that you can enable. Because it’s a feature that comes with the server, means that you will have the PowerShell cmdlets available.

Use of the MPIO module in Windows PowerShell requires an “elevated” PowerShell window, opened with Administrator privileges.

How to do it

Installing MPIO using the GUI

If you have Hyper-V Servers, you don’t have GUI on the server, but you can do it remotely from other server or from you RSAT installed on Windows 8.1, using the Server Manager Console. Just follow the steps.

1. Open Server Manager Console

2. Browse the Hyper-V Server that you want to enable the MPIO. To do that click on All Servers and then click on the Hyper-V Server.

3. Right-Click on the Hyper-V Server and click on Add Roles and Features

4. Click 4 times Next (to go to features windows)

5. On the Select features window, select Multipath I/O and click next.

6. Click Install to enable the feature.

Installing and Managing MPIO using PowerShell

Enable or Disable the MPIO Feature

If the MPIO feature is not currently installed, use the following command to enable the MPIO feature:

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature –Online –FeatureName MultiPathIO

To disable the MPIO feature, use the following command

Disable-WindowsOptionalFeature –Online –FeatureName MultiPathIO

Listing commands available in the MPIO module

The commands available in the MPIO module can be listed using get-command as shown below

Full help and example content for the MPIO module is available via the following method:

In PowerShell, after importing the MPIO module or using any MPIO cmdlet, updated help can be downloaded from the internet by running the following command:

Update-Help

Tips and Tricks

Configuring MPIO using PowerShell

If these steps are performed prior to connecting devices of the desired BusType, you can typically avoid the need for a restart.

Install the MPIO feature on a new Windows Server 2012 installation.

Configure MPIO to automatically claim all iSCSI devices.

Configure the default Load Balance policy for Round Robin.

Set the Windows Disk timeout to 60 seconds.

Here is what this script would look like:

# Enable the MPIO Feature

Enable-WindowsOptionalFeature –Online –FeatureName MultiPathIO

# Enable automatic claiming of ISCSI devices for MPIO

Enable-MSDSMAutomaticClaim -BusType iSCSI

# Set the default load balance policy of all newly claimed devices to Round Robin

With more than 18 years experience in Datacenter Architectures, Marcos Nogueira is currently working as a Principal Cloud Solution Architect. He is an expert in Private and Hybrid Cloud, with a focus on Microsoft Azure, Virtualization and System Center. He has worked in several industries, including Aerospace, Transportation, Energy, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Government, Health Care, Telecoms, IT Services, and Gas & Oil in different countries and continents.

Marcos was a Canadian MVP in System Center Cloud & Datacenter Managenment and he has +14 years as Microsoft Certified, with more than 100+ certifications (MCT, MCSE, and MCITP, among others). Marcos is also certified in VMware, CompTIA and ITIL v3. He assisted Microsoft in the development of workshops and special events on Private & Hybrid Cloud, Azure, System Center, Windows Server, Hyper-V and as a speaker at several Microsoft TechEd/Ignite and communities events around the world.

Related

With more than 18 years experience in Datacenter Architectures, Marcos Nogueira is currently working as a Principal Cloud Solution Architect. He is an expert in Private and Hybrid Cloud, with a focus on Microsoft Azure, Virtualization and System Center. He has worked in several industries, including Aerospace, Transportation, Energy, Manufacturing, Financial Services, Government, Health Care, Telecoms, IT Services, and Gas & Oil in different countries and continents.
Marcos was a Canadian MVP in System Center Cloud & Datacenter Managenment and he has +14 years as Microsoft Certified, with more than 100+ certifications (MCT, MCSE, and MCITP, among others). Marcos is also certified in VMware, CompTIA and ITIL v3. He assisted Microsoft in the development of workshops and special events on Private & Hybrid Cloud, Azure, System Center, Windows Server, Hyper-V and as a speaker at several Microsoft TechEd/Ignite and communities events around the world.